Maria Elisabeth Kaas, 93, of Milwaukee, WI passed away on November 11, 2024, at the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice surrounded by family.
She was born on October 23, 1931, daughter of the late Ulrich and Maria (Weigand) Kraft. She attended school in Abenberg, Germany. Upon graduation she helped the family tend to their farm and rebuild after the war. She met Anton (“Tony”) Kaas, and after eight years of establishing himself in America, Tony returned to Germany and asked Maria to marry him. Of course she said, “Yes”. She and Tony were married on May 21, 1960 in Abenberg and moved to Milwaukee, WI on August 4, 1960. She attended school at Alverno College and obtained a teaching certificate after which she helped teach at St. Albert’s in Milwaukee. Maria was blessed with 40 years of marriage, up until Tony’s death on March 12, 2000, and brought two lovely daughters into the world.
Maria worked at Gimbels in downtown Milwaukee, taking the bus each day, to help support their family. She loved tending to her garden, growing pears and maintaining their property holdings in Manitowoc County. She was a dedicated mother to her two daughters, Stella Kaas-Lallensack and Annette Kaas-Roush. Seeing them first through St. Alberts Elementary School, then Dominican High School in Whitefish Bay, WI and finally graduating from UW-Milwaukee. She found joy in raising these two fine ladies.
Maria enjoyed her frequent visits back to her childhood hometown, Abenberg, Germany, where she had plenty of family to visit and spent those days enjoying “Kaffeeklatsch” with one sister or another. Her arrival there was usually met with a family gathering of 30 or so people and then again the same for a going away dinner party prior to her return to America.
Maria was a member of St. Monica’s church in Whitefish Bay. Faith was a key, important part of Maria’s life and she was a regular fixture at St. Monica’s on more than just Sundays.
Maria was the middle of six siblings. She presented a good role model of what a mother, grandmother, great grandmother and family should be. She will be missed by her two children Stella (Dale) Kaas-Lallensack of Elkhart Lake, WI, and Annette (Craig) Kaas-Roush of Sheboygan, WI, grandchildren Rachael Lallensack, A.J. Lallensack, Craig Roush, Scott (Terra) Roush, Amanda Roush, and Kathleen Roush and great grandchildren Hunter Roush and Eleanor Roush
Maria was preceded in death by her parents, Ulrich and Maria Kraft, husband Anton Kaas, brother Ulrich (“Hans”) Kraft, sisters Stilla (Kraft) Hoefling, Walburga (Kraft) Hoefling, Anna (Kraft) Hoefling, Klara (Kraft) Hofmann.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00am on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish in Sheboygan, WI. The family will receive visitors at the church on Tuesday, prior to the Mass, from 10:00am to 11:00am. Maria will be laid to rest at Immaculate Conception’s cemetery (family only) where she will join Tony once again.
Our family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the staff at the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice and Wenig Funeral Home for the care of our mother.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice.
Wenig Funeral Home – Sheboygan Falls (920.467.3431) is assisting the family with arrangements. Please visit www. wenigfh.com for online condolences.
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